Introduction
As an architectural student or contractor, you’ll face a variety of structural systems, each tailored to specific site conditions, budgets, and design goals. Understanding the many types of building structures allows you to select the best solutions that balance strength, cost, and beauty.
This article discusses several structural types, their components, applications, and the modern design considerations required to create safe, effective buildings. Additionally, integrating concept development in architecture ensures that these structures are not only functional but also aligned with innovative design thinking and client expectations.
Types of Building Structures
Building structures are classified based on load transmission techniques, materials, and span capacities. You can select between load-bearing systems for basic residential buildings and framed constructions for high-rise commercial towers. These structures adapt with technology—steel frames enable skyscrapers, while timber hybrids promote sustainability.
1. Load-Bearing Structures
You employ load-bearing wall structures that directly transfer roof and floor loads to the foundations. Thick masonry walls (230mm bricks) provide cost-effective support for G+2 residential constructions.
- Walls consist of burnt clay bricks, stone, and concrete blocks.
- Slabs: RCC (100-150mm thickness)
- Spans: Maximum room width of 3-4 meters.
- Height: G+2/G+3 max.
Advantages: Low cost (₹1500/sqm) and straightforward construction.
Limitations: Limited open spans and earthquake danger.
Ideal for: Rural houses and low-rise flats.
2. Framed Structures (Most Common)
Framed structures divide load-bearing and enclosure duties, with columns/beams carrying loads and walls serving as partitions. You design multi-story offices with RCC or steel frames.
RCC Frames:
- Columns are 300 x 300 mm (ground floor).
- Beam dimensions: 230x450mm.
- Slabs: 120-150 mm M20 concrete
Steel Frames:
- Columns: ISMB 300.
- Beams: ISLB 400.
- Connections: bolted/welded moment-resistant
Applications include apartments (G+15), offices (G+30), and hospitals.
3. Truss Structures
You use truss structures for long-span roofs without intermediate columns. Triangular shapes transfer loads effectively through tension and compression, similar to how types of arches used in architecture distribute forces efficiently.
Types:
- Pratt Truss: Diagonal Tension Members
- Warren Truss: Equilateral Triangles.
- Fink Truss: Residential spans (12-18 meters)
Materials: steel angles, wood, space frame aluminium
Applications include warehouses, auditoriums, and railway stations.
Span Capacity: 20-100m economical
4. Shell Structures
The strength of shell structures is derived from their curved shape rather than thickness. You create thin (100-150mm) RCC shells that span 30-50m without internal support.
Types:
- Dome: Spherical segments.
- Hyperbolic Paraboloid: Saddle Shapes
- Barrel vaults: cylindrical shells
Applications include stadiums, exposition halls, and airport terminals.
Formwork: Expensive but reusable plywood/steel.
5. Tension Structures
You make cable and tension structures by pretensioning fabric membranes over structural frames. ETFE or PTFE is lightweight and covers large surfaces.
Examples:
- Allianz Arena: ETFE cushions
- Khan Shatyr: Transparent Tensile Roof
- Temporary Pavilions: Fabric Canopies
6. Mass Structures
Mass structures rely on material volume to maintain stability. You build dams and ancient temples with solid masonry that lacks tensile reinforcement.
Examples include pyramids, fortification walls, and gravity dams.
Materials: Rubble masonry and mass concrete.
7. Pre-Engineered Buildings (PEB)
Pre-engineered metal buildings feature factory-fabricated tapered beams that are bolted together on-site. You design warehouses quickly with Z/C purlins and sandwich panels.
Components:
- Primary frame: I-sections.
- Secondary: Cold-formed C/Z sections.
- Cladding: 50 mm PUF panels.
Construction time: 30-45 days for 5000 sqm.
Types of Support Structures
Foundation Systems you select:
Shallow Foundations:
- Isolated footings (300x300x500mm columns)
- Strip footings (1.2m wide walls)
- Raft/mat (soft soils)
Deep Foundations:
- Pile foundations (12-18m depth)
- Caissons (bridge piers)
- Diaphragm walls (basements)
Design Concepts You Master
Load Considerations:
- Dead Load: Self-weight (20-25kN/sqm residential)
- Live Load: Occupancy (3kN/sqm offices)
- Wind Load: 1.2-2kN/sqm (Coimbatore)
- Seismic: Zone II-III (0.1-0.16g acceleration)
Material Selection:
- M20 concrete: Residential (FCK=20MPa), can be proportioned with attention to the golden ratio in architecture for aesthetic harmony.
- M30: Commercial buildings
- Fe415/500 steel: High-rise
- Timber: C35 low-rise sustainable
Related: https://karpagamarch.in/key-steps-and-types-of-architectural-drawings-for-design/
Structural Components Breakdown
Vertical Elements:
- Columns: Axial loads + bending
- Shear Walls: Lateral stability (earthquake)
- Bracings: Steel frame stability
Horizontal Elements:
- Slabs: One-way/two-way (3m span limit), with behavior often validated through scale models in design visualization.
- Beams: Primary/secondary.
- Lintels: Openings above doors/windows
Types of Structural Cracks in Buildings
You identify and repair:
- Shrinkage Cracks: Plastic/Drying (hairline, non-structural)
- Settlement Cracks: Foundation Movement (diagonal > 3mm)
- Thermal Cracks: Temperature expansion (control joints required).
- Corrosion cracks: rebar rusting (spalling concrete).
The best architecture colleges in Coimbatore teach crack diagnostics via studio projects.
Modern Hybrid Structures
Composite systems offer the following advantages:
- Steel-Concrete: Core shear walls plus steel perimeter.
- Timber-Steel: Mass timber floors plus steel beams
- Precast + Cast-in-Situ: Speed and Quality
Sustainability Considerations
Green Structure Choices:
- CLT (cross-laminated timber): carbon sequestering and compatible with passive design strategies to reduce energy use.
- Bamboo: rapid regrowth and excellent strength.
- Recycled steel contains 70% less embodied carbon.
Common Student Mistakes to Avoid
- Undersized columns (<300mm ground floor)
- Inadequate foundations (ignore soil reports)
- No expansion joints (>40m spans)
- Overdesign slabs (>150mm residential)
- Ignoring lateral loads (wind/seismic)
Conclusion
Different types of building structures serve specific functions; construction structure types strike a balance between economy, speed, and performance. Master load paths, material qualities, and code compliance your structural decisions determine building safety and legacy.
The best architecture colleges in Coimbatore offer hands-on instruction across all systems. From foundation design to roof truss detailing, structural brilliance creates long-lasting architecture.
FAQ
1.What are the main types of building structures used in architecture?
The four major types are load-bearing structures, framed structures (RCC or steel), shell structures, and tensile structures.
2.How do different types of structures affect building design and safety?
The structure determines the building’s strength, plan flexibility, height, material selection, and resistance to loads such as wind and earthquakes.
3.What is the difference between a building structure and a support structure?
A building structure serves as the primary framework for the building, whereas a support structure aids in the carriage or transfer of loads within that framework.
4.What are the different kinds of structures in building construction?
Common types include load-bearing, RCC-framed, steel-framed, composite, shell, and tensile structures.
5.What are the main differences between various construction structure types?
They differ in material composition, load-carrying mechanism, durability, cost, construction speed, and adaptability for various building heights and purposes.
About Karpagam Architecture
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